Handel and Haydn Society

Handel and Haydn Society. Founded in Boston in 1815, it is one of the oldest continuously performing arts organizations in the United States. Established initially to cultivate and perform oratorio and other choral music, the society has played a foundational role in introducing American audiences to major works by George Frideric Handel, Joseph Haydn, and other Baroque and Classical composers. Under a succession of notable music directors, it has become internationally recognized for its pioneering advocacy of historically informed performance on period instruments.

History

The society was formed in the aftermath of the War of 1812 by a group of Boston merchants and musicians, with its first concert presented on Christmas Day, 1815, featuring excerpts from Handel's *Messiah* and Haydn's *The Creation*. Its early growth paralleled the cultural development of Boston as a major American city, and it gave the United States premiere of Handel's complete *Messiah* in 1818. Throughout the 19th century, under leaders like Charles E. Horn and Carl Zerrahn, the society established a tradition of large-scale choral festivals, influencing similar groups across the United States. A significant transition began in the 1960s under Thomas Dunn, who initiated the shift toward Baroque performance practice, a direction profoundly expanded by subsequent conductors like Christopher Hogwood and Grant Llewellyn.

Repertoire and performance practice

The core repertoire has always centered on the oratorios of George Frideric Handel and Joseph Haydn, including definitive cycles of Handel's major works such as Israel in Egypt, Judas Maccabaeus, and *Solomon*. Under the leadership of Christopher Hogwood in the 1980s and 1990s, the society fully embraced the principles of the Early music revival, performing this canon on period instruments with reduced, historically appropriate orchestral and choral forces. This scholarly approach expanded its programming to include masterpieces by Johann Sebastian Bach, Henry Purcell, Claudio Monteverdi, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The society's commitment to Historically informed performance has made it a model for ensembles like the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and influenced the programming of institutions such as the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Music directors and conductors

The society's artistic evolution is marked by its music directors. Early influential figures included Charles E. Horn, its first president, and the long-serving Carl Zerrahn, who led the group for over four decades. The modern era of historically informed performance began with Thomas Dunn, who served from 1967 to 1986. He was succeeded by the internationally renowned scholar-conductor Christopher Hogwood (1986–2001), whose Decca recordings with the society brought it global acclaim. Subsequent directors have included Grant Llewellyn (2001–2006), Harry Christophers (2009–2020), and Jonathan Cohen, appointed in 2021. Each has further refined its distinctive sound and expanded its collaborative reach with artists and ensembles like the Academy of Ancient Music.

Notable performances and recordings

The society's 1818 complete *Messiah* premiere set a national standard, and its 1857 performance of the work for the National Peace Jubilee was a landmark event. In the modern era, its 1991 performance of Handel's *Hercules* at the Brooklyn Academy of Music was critically hailed. Its extensive discography, primarily for the Decca's L'Oiseau-Lyre label under Christopher Hogwood, includes landmark recordings of Handel's *Messiah*, Acis and Galatea, and *Alexander's Feast*, as well as Haydn's The Creation and *The Seasons*. These recordings, often featuring soloists like Judith Nelson and Emma Kirkby, have received awards including the Gramophone Award and are staples of the Early music catalog.

Legacy and influence

The Handel and Haydn Society holds a unique position in American cultural history, having directly shaped the nation's engagement with European classical music. Its early advocacy created a lasting tradition of choral singing in New England, influencing the founding of numerous Glee clubs and later organizations like the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Its transformation into a period-instrument ensemble under Christopher Hogwood placed it at the forefront of the Early music movement in North America, inspiring the development of other specialist groups such as the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Apollo's Fire. Through its concerts, educational programs, and recordings, the society continues to serve as a vital custodian of the Baroque and Classical repertoire for 21st-century audiences.

Category:Musical groups from Boston Category:Choral societies Category:Early music groups in the United States Category:Organizations established in 1815